What to Do to Keep Your Roof Safe From Strong Winds

If you have needed wind or storm damage repair before, then you know how the weather can adversely affect your roofing system. But whether or not you have seen and dealt with the effects of strong winds firsthand, you definitely want to ensure that you won’t face this problem in the future. There are ways to protect your roof from severe weather.

Hip Roof vs. Gable

Compared to gable roofs, and other designs for that matter, four-sided roofs or what’s known as the hip-roof style is significantly more resistant to strong winds due to its aerodynamic design. If you have a gable roof, you have to make sure that gable end walls are properly braced to avoid damage.

Perfect Pitch

When it comes to roof pitch, you don’t want it to be too high or too low. Both steeper and flatter roofs won’t perform as well as roofing with a moderate pitch that is between 3:12 and 6:12. If you have a roof pitch that is higher than 6:12 but less than 12:12, it can be treated as a home with two stories. Anything higher than 12:12 will need stronger connections and engineering. All roofing specialists agree that sticking to a moderate pitch is more practical and safer.

Roof Decking

You can use either a 19/32-inch or a 7/16-inch plywood decking. Nails should be used instead of staples for a better hold. For an existing home, a wood adhesive may also be applied using a caulking gun on the sides of the intersections of the decking and the rafters.

Right Roof Covering

To prevent weather damage, especially from wind, you want to make sure that you choose roofing materials that are developed and tested to withstand the strongest of winds. Doing so will save you from roof repair in the future.

Of course, proper installation of all the elements of the roofing system also plays a big role in keeping your home’s roofing in place in case of strong winds. You should hire professionals to handle the roof installation to ensure that it can withstand everything that Mother Nature throws at it.

Brownstone Roofing can make sure that your home and roofing are safe from damage caused by strong winds and storms. You can discuss your needs with one of our experts by calling (502) 443-9222 today. We serve clients in Jefferson, IN, and surrounding areas.